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Thursday, March 31, 2016

Hello, fellow book lovers! Today I'm here with a new book haul after a very long time. I skipped a book haul last month since I only bought three books which I'll show in this post later. I've been focusing my spending on other things lately and have been buying very few books which I'm actually quite proud of myself for. My bookshelves are pretty full as is so I want to fill up every little crack with books that I know for a fact I'll read or reread in the future.

I've also gotten rid of about 50+ books in the past four or five months that have allowed me to buy more books, something that I'm also very happy about. I decided to clean out my shelves since I was so tired of seeing my TBR grow when most of the books in my pile were ones that I was never going to read or no longer had any interest in reading. I'm still in the process of getting rid of some books to my friends and to charity so let's celebrate with a book haul!

The Only Pirate At The Party by Lindsey Stirling and Brooke S. Passey (Signed) - BAM- $24

I also purchased a couple of art books including Pop Painting by Camilla De Errico and the other about facial anatomy. I also bought this really cute Paris journal that I use for writing down blogging ideas and it's been a big help!

So now that the long haul is finally done, I hope you guys enjoyed! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Monday, March 28, 2016

Grace and Tippi. Tippi and Grace. Two sisters. Two hearts. Two dreams. Two lives. But one body.

Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins, joined at the waist, defying the odds of survival for sixteen years. They share everything, and they are everything to each other. They would never imagine being apart. For them, that would be the real tragedy.

But something is happening to them. Something they hoped would never happen. And Grace doesn’t want to admit it. Not even to Tippi.

How long can they hide from the truth—how long before they must face the most impossible choice of their lives?

This book is one of my favorite contemporaries to date since it deals with a very unusual storyline with having the characters be conjoined twins. I first heard about this book last year and I just had to add it to my bookshelf and read it as soon as possible. I fell in love with the book, the writing style, the characters, the story, the deeper meaning. Everything about it. I love that Grace and Tippi are sisters that really rely on each other for more than just what is physically needed but also emotionally there to help the other up. They really only need each other to be happy and that's why this story is such a heartwarming one while also a little heartbreaking but a beautiful story nonetheless. If you have a sister or a sibling that's more like your best friend, then I highly recommend this book!

Saturday, March 26, 2016

One thing I love more than books, coffee and music are Pixar movies. I just can't get enough of them but then again, who really can? I think that everyone's list of favorite movies contains, at least, ONE Pixar movie. I'm a HUGE Disney fan and I will literally squeal in public when I see merch from one of my favorites. So, since I'm a Disney freak, I thought I'd share my top five favorite Pixar movies with you guys! I do have my least favorites so let me know if that's another post you'd like to see! So without further ado, let's get started!

Going in no particular order:

1. Big Hero 6

Not only is this one so funny, but it's probably the cutest Pixar movie I've ever seen! No lie. I was so excited when this movie first came out that I just had to see it on opening day like I always do with pretty much every Disney movie that comes out. I absolutely love anything and everything that has to do with Japan or China, I'm just very intrigued by their culture, so I was over the moon for this movie. Of course, it got really depressing within the first five minutes of the movie but it's such a fun story about friendship and family filled with tons of adventure. I just love it!

2. Inside Out

Okay, this one is pretty darn cute too. I just love this movie because it shows how emotions are really important when it comes to making up your personality. It was so much fun seeing the emotions get into some pretty serious trouble and how they went about trying to fix their problem with not so good outcomes. This movie is just such a neat concept and I love how it tells the story of a little girl growing up and how she deals with being homesick, making new friends and how hard it can actually be on a kid. I related a lot with Disgust since she's sarcastic and because the internet told me so on a few different quizzes. Which emotion are you?

3. Wreck-It-Ralph

This movie takes place in video games, a world made of candy and has awesome characters. Need I say more why this one is one of my favorites? This movie is such a good one because it's all about friendship and what really makes a hero.

4. Toy Story

Of course, there has to be a classic one on this list. I grew up on Toy Story even though I wasn't alive when the movie came out but it still had such a special place in my childhood and I got so excited when the third movie came out. I think only Toy Story can bring teenagers to tears when a new sequel is announced. I mean, if you've seen Toy Story 3, you know which scene brought us all to tears. And I NEVER cry in movies! I'm so beyond excited about Toy Story 4 but also a little sad knowing it might be the last installment. Either way, I'll be watching these movies for years to come!

5. Ratatoullie

I love this one because it takes place in Paris, a city I've always wanted to visit. It also follows a rat who desperately wants to be a chef, something I wouldn't mind being either. I've always wanted to learn how to cook amazing dishes and baking only counts for so much. This movie really inspires me now to want to look up some recipes and cook up some of them to further expand my menu. I love baking pastries and different cakes and desserts like White Cake, German Chocolate Cake, Snickerdoodles, Caramel Nella Cookie Crunch (what I like to call it ;) and I even came up with my very own chocolate cake recipe after not being completely satisfied with some of the recipes I was finding. I call it Dauntless Cake but I would love to make a dish that Remy would be proud of.

So those are my top five favorite Pixar films! I have so many other favorites but these are ones I just can't seem to get enough of and I watch them more often than any other. So what are your favorite Pixar films? Let me know in the comments because I would LOVE to know!

Monday, March 21, 2016

Assuming you already know this classic story then you know that this book follows a young girl named Alice who falls down a hole and somehow finds herself in a magical world where there are talking plants, bigger-than-life characters and peculiar places that seem like something straight from the most abstract of imaginations. I wanted to pair this book with a song that I think really tells the story of just how much this book is based on new friendships, finding magic in ordinary places and dreaming about the impossible no matter how crazy the idea may seem.

I love Alice and her story because it really teaches the importance of exploration of the world around you whether it has talking animals or not. Even though I would love to visit Wonderland more than anything, this world seems pretty interesting too! I hope you guys enjoy!

Friday, March 18, 2016

The day is finally here! I've been very excited for March 18 for many reasons, including the release of Allegiant! I've been dying for it to hit theaters ever since seeing the trailer for it months ago and I'm happy that I've finally been able to watch it! Let's get the review started!

The first thing I want to say is if you're expecting as good of an adaptation that the first movie was, don't hold your breath. This third movie is more accurate to the book than Insurgent was, still having changes but having the overall same premise and plot points that made up the story itself but not as good as the first movie. Allegiant is actually tied with the first book as my favorite out of the series simply because I honestly thought it was a really good book. Yes, it is hard to follow since there's a lot of information being thrown at you every single chapter but I enjoyed that aspect since I like knowing how things work, call it my inner Erudite if you want. The movie, however, breaks everything down in an oversimplified way for the audience to follow which is nice since the book holds a ton of information.

There is also a ton more technology than in the actual book which is something that kind of lost me since I was trying to filter through the events that happen to bring you guys a more accurate movie review. I do have to say that the flying pods, ships and drones were all really cool and I really want a lot of the stuff that was used. Like seriously, I want the drone thingamabobs! But at the same time, some of it was a little overwhelming but if you like technology then I'm sure it won't bother you at all.

Another thing is that the movie did its own thing while still staying truer to the story than Insurgent did. It was a slower paced movie since not a ton happens in the book but I still really loved seeing everything play out. A lot of the build up to the plot points happen very differently than in the book but they still follow along the lines of the book such as Caleb's trial, Tris meeting David and Four going to the Fringe. If you've read the book then you know how all this plays out but I'm being vague for the sake of not wanting to spoil anyone who hasn't read the series yet or the third book. This movie was a little easier to follow than the previous two but at the same time, there was still a lot of information and revelations being thrown at you that it made it somewhat overwhelming. I really enjoyed this movie but then again, I actually loved the book unlike most people so some might have problems with the movie still or you might even love the movie a lot more than the book.

Lastly, the movie did have a pretty abrupt ending and it felt pretty short. The second part, Ascendant, comes to theaters in 2017 so I'm guessing that's why it felt so short. Duh, you're only getting half of what happens in the book. But I think it could've had just a tad bit more of a smoother ending instead of showing some scenes with dialogue and then cutting to the credits in a snap.

I would give this movie a seven out of ten for being more accurate to the book, being interesting enough of a movie to watch and overall, a decent adaptation. Could it have been better? Yes, yes it could have. Do I wish this movie was as good as Divergent? Hands down yes. But of course, the world isn't perfect, which is pointed out very thoroughly in the movie might I add, so we just have to take what we get. I would honestly see this movie again because I found it interesting than maybe most people will but it has been getting some pretty good reviews from people so maybe I'm not alone. I'm excited for the conclusion to this movie franchise next year but at the same time kind of sad knowing it's ending. It is my favorite trilogy after all!

So what did you think about this movie? What would you score it? Let me know in the comments if you're excited about this movie or if you liked it better than the book.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

Review:

PROS:

1. I've been wanting to read this book for so long that I still can't believe I've actually finally read it. I got tired of seeing so many people rave about it when I still hadn't even purchased a copy. So, I finally ordered mine and read it pretty much as soon as I got it and read it within a couple of days. Before I continue to talk about how much I loved it, let me review it for you guys first.

2. Characters. How I loved them. I thought Harper was such a feisty yet classy girl who used her brains for every situation she ever found herself in. She was very calculated as well as devoted to all things school, success and carrying herself in a respectful manner. Things did get very strange very fast for Harper once she becomes a Paladin, in a very interesting way might I add, but she tries very hard to keep her cool despite her freaking out on the inside. She's a really fun character to follow and I think a lot of people can relate to her. I also loved David and everything he had to offer as a character as well. He was funny, sarcastic and sometimes a bit of a jerk but you just had to love him. His way of keeping cool with things was just as equally entertaining to read about as Harper, their bursts of insanity coming at random with hilarious dialogue that had me smiling from ear to ear. Needless to say, I really wish this one was a movie.

3. The things that take place in this book are very interesting to read because of things like the time period being modern day as well as the whole Paladin/end of the world aspect. I loved this book because it had a different fantasy element such as Paladins that I didn't really know about before reading this book. It was so much fun to read because of it being placed in modern day but not boring or too out of place as some modern day fantasy stories can be. It didn't drag on since there was a twist and turn every other page and with all the car chasing and combat training, it was very addicting.

4. I also loved that this book had a comedic feel to it which was refreshing. It wasn't too serious of a story nor was it too silly. It was a perfect blend of fantasy, action, contemporary and fun that made reading it such an awesome experience. I also loved the way it was written, how Harper told her story with wit and sarcasm which I fully enjoyed. This book reminded me a little of Agent Carter meets Hart Of Dixie but with magic so I highly recommend this book for those reasons alone.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was simply that the ending felt too rushed. I felt that the last chapter should've been broken down into two or three to get all the loose ends tied up with a little more detail instead of just brushing over things like it did. The story was really good but the ending was just not quite my cup of tea.

I'm still very excited to read the sequel to Rebel Belle, although I've heard that it falls flat compared to this first book so I'm a little nervous to read it. Regardless, I'll be picking up the book soon to find out what happens next!

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Hello, my lovely bookworms! Today I'm super excited to bring you a really cool unboxing/opening of my very first book subscription bag, myBOOKbag! I was sent this bag by the company in exchange for a free and HONEST review of the bag and to let you guys know what these books they sent me are about and my thoughts on the overall subscription. Before we get started, let me tell you a little more about myBOOKbag:

From the website:

myBOOKbag is an online subscription based book delivery company. Every month the subscriber will receive a bag full of books from an assortment of genres.myBOOKbag features authors every month and have the opportunity to interact with our subscribers, fun giveaways, events and more. myBOOKbag’s purpose is to spread the knowledge of the art of literature through fun.

The company, which enables readers to subscribe for $25 per month (all genres) / $20 per month (children’s books) and receive a monthly bag full of books was created by Jessica Greenhill.

I was super excited about partnering with this subscription since it offers you a chance to read more indie books, which is something I LOVE! Some of my favorite reads are published by independent authors and I love that this book bag is dedicated to getting those authors more recognition and getting their books out there for more readers to find. So many talented authors go unnoticed and this bag allows readers to find them as well as books they might not have ever discovered. If this sounds like something you'd like, please subscribe to get your first bag and be sure to use the COUPON CODE: BOOKCENTRAL to get 20% off your first month!!

Now without further ado, here are the books I received!

First off, I got the books wrapped very neatly in white tissue paper as well as in this really cool tote bag with an awesome quote on the front with the company's logo. Who doesn't love an awesome bookish tote bag? It's nothing fancy but I think it'll come in handy when I go book shopping and need something to carry them all in. Of course, you can use the bag any way you want.

These are the books that came in the bag and as you can see, they are really pretty!

The first book is "I Don't Want To Be Your Bridesmaid" by Adina Ferguson. I'm not entirely sure what it's about but it is a really short novel, only about 80 pages and it's also kindly signed by the author with a very lovely note. It also included and neat little sticker and a pretty cool bookmark that I'll be adding to my never-ending bookmark collection so I'm really happy about that.

The cover of the book is also very cute and I just love how the pink font stands out among the black and white. One of my favorite things about any book is a good cover and I loved that this was no exception, it's just too cute!

Synopsis: This humorous memoir collection tackles everything from femininity, race, daddy issues, relationship woes, family misfortunes and much more. I Don’t Want to Be Your Bridesmaid is packed with stories that will make women laugh, cry and declare she’s better than what the world wants her to be.

The next book I received was "The Reluctant Sacrifice" by Kerr-Ann Dempster. This cover is absolutely gorgeous and I just love the red color!

This one is a lot longer than the first book but I'm excited to read both of them, especially since this book has quite and interesting yet scary storyline and if you know me, you know how much I love a good fantasy and horror story.

Synopsis: Centuries ago, sibling rivalry tore Aramith apart. As punishment, the losers were stripped of their immortal birthright and banished to Earth. There, they wasted away from old age and diseases. However, there is hope…

If a Shaw child, born on the 12th day of the 12th month, offers her soul in a public sacrifice, then the exiles will be forgiven and returned home to Aramith.

Aubrey Shaw is that child, but dying for the exiles is not on her to-do list. Using her gift as a Jumper, Aubrey leaps between bodies to escape relentless shape-shifting hunters. Only, shedding her skin is not enough. Not when Joshua, her best-friend-turned-hunter, is hell-bent on dragging her to the altar.

Will Aubrey’s love for Joshua change his mind?

Or, will she have to trust the scarred stranger who shows up out of the blue-cloaked in lies and secrets? Doing so means giving up on Joshua. But betting on Joshua’s love could do more than break her heart.

It could kill her.

So those are the books I received in this month's myBOOKbag! I really hope you guys enjoyed this post and be sure to follow @getmybookbag on social media! I'll be posting reviews for both of these books in the future so I hope you guys stick around to read them.

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

--The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The PrincessThe Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...

Review:

PROS:

1. Can I just say that after reading this book, I'm now farther away from accepting that the Lunar Chronicles series has come to an end? I mean, I know the graphic novel will be among us soon enough but I just can't wrap my brain around the fact that these books are now completed and done. Stars Above, while the last book in the series, was the perfect way to wrap everything up by giving readers new material to read about their favorite characters and the beloved world they travel through. I was so excited to read this book and I'm more than excited to share my review of it!

2. One thing I just loved about this little bind-up of Lunar novellas was simply that you got to experience all the stories in one big book. It's like reading flashbacks of a character. I loved that we get to see the past events of the characters and how they got to where they are when we're first introduced to them in the main series. It's really cool to see just what made the characters who they were and what made them tick, how they ended up in the homes or workplaces they're in when in the main series, and just what kind of problems they had to deal with before the whole Queen Levana tidbit. My personal favorites were that of Thorne and Cinder of course but I loved pretty much all of them.

3. Another thing is that we also get some brand new novellas that have never before been published until this bind-up and I freaking loved them! My favorites were Something Old, Something New and The Mechanic which isn't surprising if you know just how big of a crush I have on the lovely Prince Kai but I promise I have legit reasons for those being my favorites. Scouts honor. Pinky swear. Cross my heart. The last novella had me in tears since it was the last story, so many feels were coming at me, and it involved how two of my favorite characters ended up at the end. And of course, the wedding to which I won't spoil for you guys but it is a good one!

4. It was so much fun getting back into the world of the Lunar Chronicles and I will forever treasure this series since it has become an obsession of mine as well as a pretty big part of these past two teen years. It allowed me to bond even more with my friends as we discussed our favorite parts, characters and how fun it was to hate Queen Levana and just have an all around awesome book discussion. It also inspired us to really work on our own character and world building when it comes to our own writing and I really hope that you pick up this series if you haven't yet as soon as possible! You won't regret it!

Now to figure out what new series to dedicate all my time to and obsess over . . .

This might take a while.

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Monday, March 7, 2016

It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back?

I chose to pair this book with a song that pretty much reminds me of the story from the very first few lyrics, talking about 'looking out the window' and seeing the sun shining. Especially the lyric where it walks about not wanting to be a hostage anymore which is exactly what are the main character is in the book, literally. In this beautiful story, Gemma has to not only fight for her life but also figure out what it is her captor wants with her and she has to struggle with the feelings she starts developing for him. Is it actually love for him or is it simply Gemma losing her mind? I highly recommend this book so please pick it up!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

So recently I've been thinking about some of my favorite villains and heroes in books, movies and shows and it got me thinking about something: What really makes a hero and a villain that exactly? Is it a love for wicked acts and a hunger to bring justice to the world? Or is it something that just manifests randomly? Or is it that we've somehow been blinded to the fact that maybe in some way we're all both hero and villain? I wanted to break this aspect down and see who's actually what when it comes to being a hero or villain and classified as such. During this post, I'll be following a particular formula that I like to call "The Beauty And The Beast Effect". Let's get started.

So assuming you've seen the beloved Disney movie, you'll know that Gastone is the villain in our story and the Beast is the good guy who gets the girl and they all live happily ever after, right? Well, I'm here to challenge that theory. Let's break it down further:

Gastone is willing to blackmail Belle into marrying him by threatening to harm her father and possibly worse. However, if Gastone had actually succeeded in his plan, where does that even get him? Into a loveless marriage? What's the point in even pursuing Belle if he knows full well she won't ever care for him? He also goes after the beast in order to kill him because he sees him as a threat to the town. Sure, he has somewhat distorted reasons but overall, wouldn't any person living in fear want to be rid of the thing scaring them?

And then we have the Beast. The guy who's portrayed as a good guy turned bitter and lonely by an evil witch and takes Belle hostage and lets her father be free. They, of course, fall in love, he turns human again and they're married and live out their days happily. HOWEVER, let's not overlook the fact that since Belle falls in love with the Beast, wouldn't that be the case of STALKHOME SYNDROME? And, she never really escapes the whole blackmailing thing since, in both situations, she's only abiding because she wants her father safe.

So, with that being said, my question still remains: What really makes a villain or a hero and is there really even a definition?

To get my point across, let's take a look at obvious villains and heroes. Our first example is Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles. Levana is portrayed as a heartless ruler who couldn't care less about the health and conditions of her people, even having tried killing her own family and succeeding a few times. I don't want to give out spoilers so that's the gist of it. Queen Levana didn't always act out wickedly, she was once a nice kid but as her life went on and people continued to treat her like trash and ignored her very existence, I can imagine that might take a pretty heavy emotional toll on someone; turning them heartless and cold. But is that really enough to turn someone into a villain? I'm not saying she's a good person, she is the definition of evil, but is emotional turmoil and cruel family members really all it takes to make someone a villain? If that's the case, then why did Harry Potter save the world? Why did Four help bring down an entire government system to allow people way better futures? Why didn't Cinderella burn the house down with her stepsisters and stepmother inside?

Our next example is a hero. Not from a book but you get the idea. Mulan is my favorite Disney Princess for many reasons, one being that she's willing to do whatever it takes to ensure her family's safety and fighting for what's right. The whole point of her going to war was because she wanted her father safe since she knew that he more than likely would not survive on a battlefield in his old age. She didn't have to step up to the plate and pose as a dude and train with others for a country-wide war but she did anyway. Throughout the entirety of her staying disguised as a man, going through training and eventually fighting in said war, she risks being killed on the spot should someone find out that she's, in fact, a woman. Not to mention, once she's allowed to go home, she runs into the city to warn the people that the thought-to-be-dead enemy is hiding in the city and will strike at any moment. She didn't have to do any of that but because she chose her loved ones over her own safety and life, that, by definition, makes her a hero. She did save the entire country of China after all.

And let's not forget about the morally grey characters such as Wolf from The Lunar Chronicles, Peter from Divergent, and the classic Professor Snape from Harry Potter. Yes, they did some pretty bad things and you honestly love to hate them but there's also the fact that they walk the line between good and bad. They all did some wicked things in their past and continue to walk on the dark side but they also commit acts that end up helping the good guys, by their own will might I add. They didn't have to help out the good guys but they also weren't forced to help the bad guys. These characters, in my own personal opinion, really prove that heroes and villains are capable of being both at the same time, maybe one side showing a little brighter than the other.

They also point out the product of this entire discussion: We're all heroes and villains, good and bad, all at the same time. Heroes and villains are simply left up to your own interpretation, some signs being obvious and others being mixed. There's no denying who's the villain in the story or who's the hero but there are also characters that are seemingly both and are left for you to decide and discuss.

Whether they had good upbringings, bad experiences with people, broken trust or reliable friends, a hero and villain are parts a character has to choose between. This entire hero vs. villain thing will probably continue to be discussed for many, many years to come which is part of the reason why it's such a good debate. What really makes a hero? Who's really the villain? Both are capable of doing both good and bad things so what draws the fine line between it? What do YOU think about all of this? Let's continue this discussion in the comments!

I hope you guys enjoy this discussion! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!